Aztecs look to right the ship vs. SJSU

Can Xavier Thames shake out of his slump?

San Diego State guard Xavier Thames (2) dives after the ball Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, against the University of Wyoming at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Jeremy Martin)
The Associated Press

San Diego State guard Xavier Thames (2) dives after the ball Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, against the University of Wyoming at the Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. (AP Photo/Jeremy Martin)

After six weeks ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press top 25 poll and a streak of 20-straight wins, San Diego State has dropped seven spots in the polls thanks to two losses in the last two weeks.

Now ranked No. 13, the Aztecs (23-3, 12-2) come home to face San Jose State (7-19, 1-13) Tuesday night at Viejas Arena in a game that they hope will help restore their equilibrium.

In its first year in the Mountain West, San Jose State has struggled in league play. The Spartans lost 13-straight league games before finally clinching a 66-64 win over Nevada last Tuesday.

The Spartans have had the last week off, and they come to San Diego to face an Aztecs’ team determined to extend its 39-game win streak against teams from the state of California.

SDSU was taken out of its element in New Mexico, and the top two teams in the Mountain West played a brand of schoolyard ball that kept them off the free throw line. That worked against the Aztecs, who thrive on getting to the line.

“Part of our (modus operandi) is getting to the free-throw line 30 times a game, and we got there three times (on Saturday) and didn’t make any,” SDSU coach Steve Fisher said Monday.

What became clearer than ever in Albuquerque was the fact that SDSU has yet to find a pure shooter who can keep them in games when the other team starts to pour in the points.

Point guard Xavier Thames has been that guy for the Aztecs for most of the season, but he has struggled lately.

Thames’ season points average is 16.8, but he’s failed to hit double digits in the last two games, and he’s averaged 9.3 points over the last four games – beginning with the defeat at Wyoming.

Thames went 3 of 15 from the field at New Mexico and finished with seven points. Prior to that, he went 1 of 9 for four points against Utah State.

So what’s changed? Have teams simply figured out how to shut down SDSU’s point guard?

Fisher doesn’t think opponents have done anything different against Thames in recent games. But he also acknowledged that Thames might be trying a little too hard to work out of his problems.

“Everybody, when they prepare for us, Xavier Thames is one on their scout board, that’s not just the last four games,” Fisher said, “Is Xavier Thames pressing a little bit to try to score? I think maybe a little bit.

“He had a lot of good looks he didn’t make (against New Mexico). He had a handful of hard shots maybe he shouldn’t have taken… I think he tried too hard occasionally to get some shots in the last game.”

The Aztecs became their own worst enemies against the Lobos, Fisher said.

“We as a group collectively fell into what we want other teams to do: Shoot on one pass, and didn’t swing the ball from side to side,” Fisher said. “Hopefully we’ll be better with that (against San Jose State).”

The Aztecs beat SJSU 75-50 when the two teams last met in San Jose on Jan. 22, but they’re in no position to take anyone lightly.

“We were one for our first 10 from the field, four for our first 17, and the score with 20-16 with three minutes to go at the half,” Fisher said.

But the Aztecs pulled out the win, and hope to repeat that feat Tuesday.

“We know we’re a good team and you can’t play out of fear and frustration,” Fisher said. “Our fans can’t get unnerved if we go stretches without scoring. You’ve got to stay the course when it gets hard.”

No. 13 SDSU vs. SJSU

No. 13 SDSU vs. San Jose State

Site/time: Viejas Arena/8 p.m. Tuesday

On the air: CBS Sports Network/1090-AM

Records: SDSU is 23-3, 12-2. SJSU is 7-19, 1-13.

Series: SJSU has a 34-31 series lead, but SDSU is 22-9 against the Spartans at home and has won two-straight at Viejas Arena.

Last time: SDSU struggled with its shooting in the first half, but its defense prevailed and disrupted the Spartans offensively and Xavier Thames scored 15 points to lead the Aztecs to the win on Jan. 22 in San Jose.

Aztecs update: Aztecs fell seven spots in the AP Poll and are coming off their second-straight road defeat. History is on the Aztecs’ side though. SDSU takes pride in quick rebounds and has won its last seven games coming off a loss.

Spartans update: Freshman guard Jalen James propelled SJSU over Nevada last week when he scored the game-winning bucket with 1.8 seconds remaining in the game. Spartans have struggled this year, especially on offense, but can they turn their first MWC win into momentum?